Entries from December 1, 2004 - December 31, 2004
surpwise
yesterday my brother and sister-in-law were unexpectedly shopping in fort wayne, at the time my parents and i were to be dropping off their oldest son, chase. our sunday plans were to drop him off, then watch a movie and/or do some post holiday shopping. after complicated and frustrating phone conversations, it was finally decided that chase would be left with my sister-in-law's mother. all the confusion resulted in a missed movie and exasperation at the change of plans. at some point during the tense car ride, i remarked, "i don't like surprises!"
after a pause, my nephew turned to me and asked, "do you like presents [which comes out, 'pwesents']?"
i had no idea what we were now talking about. "yeah, i like presents," i replied.
his eyes were innocent, and his comment eager and earnest: "well, just think of this wike a pwesent! it's a surpwise!"
i've just been unknowingly rebuked by a four-year-old.
mdog
5 Comments
maybe 2005.
i am sitting at my desk, taunted by boxes of christmas cards that have remained unopened for yet another year.
gone are the days of letter writing in this e-mail and cell phone driven age. we can send e-cards for any occasion, chat online using our messaging program of choice, call from the store to ask what new release to pick up. but somehow, the simple christmas card lives on. perhaps it is the no-strings-attached aspect of them -- "hi there, i don't have much to say, but i still remember you exist". or perhaps it is the sense of obligation. or maybe we think that sending christmas cards is What Jesus Would Do.
personally, i'd like to think that it's because everyone is just like me. [a comforting-yet-frightening thought.] we desire to stay connected with those people that have come and gone from our daily lives, but we don't have the willpower/ability/unselfishness to do it consistently. december 25th seems a good a time as any to stay in touch, doesn't it? in some cases it's both an excuse for, and a redemption from, our lack of communication.
but more likely than not, the answer is much less cynical than any i will conjure up... namely that people just want to celebrate Christmas and share in that joyous night with those around them. basically i'm just trying to make excuses for not getting around to sending out christmas cards yet again, even though i had every intention that THIS would be the year.
so, to all of you fantastic people that did not receive a cheery greeting in your mailbox from yours truly: please do not be alarmed, offended, or otherwise put off by this non-incident. know that i care about you and probably think about you more often than you may suspect.
merry christmas to you, dear friends.
gone are the days of letter writing in this e-mail and cell phone driven age. we can send e-cards for any occasion, chat online using our messaging program of choice, call from the store to ask what new release to pick up. but somehow, the simple christmas card lives on. perhaps it is the no-strings-attached aspect of them -- "hi there, i don't have much to say, but i still remember you exist". or perhaps it is the sense of obligation. or maybe we think that sending christmas cards is What Jesus Would Do.
personally, i'd like to think that it's because everyone is just like me. [a comforting-yet-frightening thought.] we desire to stay connected with those people that have come and gone from our daily lives, but we don't have the willpower/ability/unselfishness to do it consistently. december 25th seems a good a time as any to stay in touch, doesn't it? in some cases it's both an excuse for, and a redemption from, our lack of communication.
but more likely than not, the answer is much less cynical than any i will conjure up... namely that people just want to celebrate Christmas and share in that joyous night with those around them. basically i'm just trying to make excuses for not getting around to sending out christmas cards yet again, even though i had every intention that THIS would be the year.
so, to all of you fantastic people that did not receive a cheery greeting in your mailbox from yours truly: please do not be alarmed, offended, or otherwise put off by this non-incident. know that i care about you and probably think about you more often than you may suspect.
merry christmas to you, dear friends.
disarray
my apartment is a disaster. furniture
is haphazard, presents are half-wrapped, decorations not fully hung.
this is what happens when i decide that stringing lights and garland
around the entire one hundred foot perimeter of my living room and
kitchen is a great idea at one thirty in the morning. and did i mention
i'm having people over tonight for a little holiday party? eek.
my life is a disaster as well. but in a good way. the local university
has been on winter break since thanksgiving, and classes resume the
first week of january. i am in no way affiliated with the school, but
somehow this insane six week break has affected my schedule. the
holiday season is upon us and has increased my general busyness, while
at the same time almost everyone i spend time with has had nothing to
do for the past three weeks. this means more random social events
[poker on monday until midnight? sure! get together for a jam session?
no problem!] and less free time for this introvert.
not that i should complain. a year ago i was grieving the loss of my old church and of dear friends moving away; as a result, i had exactly one person in this town that i could truly call "friend". there are plenty more details, but just know that things were rough. it was the worst period of my life by far.
so, as rachel so obviously pointed out to me in conversation: this busyness is not a bad problem to have.
not that i should complain. a year ago i was grieving the loss of my old church and of dear friends moving away; as a result, i had exactly one person in this town that i could truly call "friend". there are plenty more details, but just know that things were rough. it was the worst period of my life by far.
so, as rachel so obviously pointed out to me in conversation: this busyness is not a bad problem to have.
scandalous
go on up to the mountain of mercy
to the crimson perpetual tide
kneel down on the shore
be thirsty no more
go under and be purified
at the wonderful tragic mysterious tree
on that beautiful scandalous night you and me
we're atoned by His blood
and forever washed white
on that beautiful scandalous night
steve hindalong and derri daugherty, copyright 1992 never say never songs/new spring publishing, inc/ascap
[some samples].
yesterday i received my merry-christmas-to-me package of several cds. i know i'm a little late on the "city on a hill" craze, but this song is my new obsession. as a matter of fact, this song is the sole reason for this particular album purchase. i suppose i'll get to the other songs eventually.
i am humbled and overwhelmed at this song's content and imagery. i know i'm in the wrong holiday here; but then again, christmas and easter are nothing without the other. we are in a season of advent -- a time of waiting; a time of anticipation; a time of arrival. but why the celebration? to the world, some illegitimate kid was born in a middle-of-nowhere stable. to God, the world had received His Son. to believers, it meant then as it does now: Emmanuel, God with us... our Savior has come. but we celebrate now with the added knowledge of the resurrection: we know the beautiful scandalous end of the story. we are indeed atoned; we are purified; our guilt extinguished.
rejoice.
to the crimson perpetual tide
kneel down on the shore
be thirsty no more
go under and be purified
at the wonderful tragic mysterious tree
on that beautiful scandalous night you and me
we're atoned by His blood
and forever washed white
on that beautiful scandalous night
steve hindalong and derri daugherty, copyright 1992 never say never songs/new spring publishing, inc/ascap
[some samples].
yesterday i received my merry-christmas-to-me package of several cds. i know i'm a little late on the "city on a hill" craze, but this song is my new obsession. as a matter of fact, this song is the sole reason for this particular album purchase. i suppose i'll get to the other songs eventually.
i am humbled and overwhelmed at this song's content and imagery. i know i'm in the wrong holiday here; but then again, christmas and easter are nothing without the other. we are in a season of advent -- a time of waiting; a time of anticipation; a time of arrival. but why the celebration? to the world, some illegitimate kid was born in a middle-of-nowhere stable. to God, the world had received His Son. to believers, it meant then as it does now: Emmanuel, God with us... our Savior has come. but we celebrate now with the added knowledge of the resurrection: we know the beautiful scandalous end of the story. we are indeed atoned; we are purified; our guilt extinguished.
rejoice.
lacking
hopefully i will have a decent entry up around here soon. i am appalled by my own weblog.
what the shig?
email one:
Could you email [B] an invoice for $250 speaker's fee plus 438 in mileage (they probably do whatever the tax allowance is now $38.5?)
Thanks.
[my CEO]
email two:
Hi [B],
I can fax you an invoice shortly if you like. What name and address should I use, and what is your mileage reimbursement rate? Thanks!
[Maria]
email three:
Thanks for your note Maria.
Our fax number is 216-368-5542
I am forwarding this on to [S] who handles invoicing.
[B]
email four [thirteen days later, after no response]:
Hi [B] and [S],
Shall I assume you would like an invoice faxed to you? Should it be addressed to [your department], or to [the university]? Thanks in advance.
Maria
email five:
Yes you can fax the invoice to me at [xxx-xxx-xxxx]. [Your CEO] should put her name, address, phone number and social security number on the top of the invoice and address it to [our department]. Thanks.
[S]
email six:
Maria: I received the invoice. Thank you. However, it needs a little revision before I submit for payment. You cannot list consulting and honorarium as 2 separate categories. It should be listed as an honorarium because [your CEO] is not contracted by [our department] as a consultant. So if the honorarium is $250.00 then the other charges must be for travel. I need receipts for gas, etc. and I also need the mileage (we pay 0.34 cents per mile). Thank you.
[S]
email seven:
[S],
This was the information I was trying to find last week [mileage reimbursement rate, etc.]. Since no one got back with me, I assumed that there were no particular guidelines. I will create a new invoice. You can throw the old one out.
The only paperwork I have is a mileage voucher for 438 miles driven. I will fax this along with with the new invoice. Thanks.
Maria
email eight:
Sorry about getting back to you so late but I was out from Wednesday on last week and did not open your e-mail until yesterday. All you have to do is state the mileage at 34.5 cents per mile (I think I gave you the wrong rate). If there are no gas or hotel charges then I do not need any receipts. Thanks for your help.
[S]
email nine:
Maria: I received your latest invoice - I am sorry but it needs to be revised again. You have 2 charges for honorariums $250.00 and $151.11. What is the $151.11 for? If it is part of the honorarium, you have to charge 1 fee not 2. In other words, the charge for the honorarium totals either $250.00 or $401.00. Let me know.
[S]
email ten:
[S],
Our accounting program groups "Honorariums and/or Travel Reimbursements" under one charge code. The $250.00 is for [my CEO's] speaker fee, and the $151.11 is for her mileage [438 miles @ $34.5 per mile]. You can classify these any way you prefer. The total invoice is $401.11. Call me at [xxx-xxx-xxxx] if we need to work this out further.
Maria
***
i mean... come on. i try to get information and no one responds. i send an invoice and go figure -- it's not up to par with their mysterious guidelines. give me all the information i need and give it to me all at once!!! what is your problem???
Could you email [B] an invoice for $250 speaker's fee plus 438 in mileage (they probably do whatever the tax allowance is now $38.5?)
Thanks.
[my CEO]
email two:
Hi [B],
I can fax you an invoice shortly if you like. What name and address should I use, and what is your mileage reimbursement rate? Thanks!
[Maria]
email three:
Thanks for your note Maria.
Our fax number is 216-368-5542
I am forwarding this on to [S] who handles invoicing.
[B]
email four [thirteen days later, after no response]:
Hi [B] and [S],
Shall I assume you would like an invoice faxed to you? Should it be addressed to [your department], or to [the university]? Thanks in advance.
Maria
email five:
Yes you can fax the invoice to me at [xxx-xxx-xxxx]. [Your CEO] should put her name, address, phone number and social security number on the top of the invoice and address it to [our department]. Thanks.
[S]
email six:
Maria: I received the invoice. Thank you. However, it needs a little revision before I submit for payment. You cannot list consulting and honorarium as 2 separate categories. It should be listed as an honorarium because [your CEO] is not contracted by [our department] as a consultant. So if the honorarium is $250.00 then the other charges must be for travel. I need receipts for gas, etc. and I also need the mileage (we pay 0.34 cents per mile). Thank you.
[S]
email seven:
[S],
This was the information I was trying to find last week [mileage reimbursement rate, etc.]. Since no one got back with me, I assumed that there were no particular guidelines. I will create a new invoice. You can throw the old one out.
The only paperwork I have is a mileage voucher for 438 miles driven. I will fax this along with with the new invoice. Thanks.
Maria
email eight:
Sorry about getting back to you so late but I was out from Wednesday on last week and did not open your e-mail until yesterday. All you have to do is state the mileage at 34.5 cents per mile (I think I gave you the wrong rate). If there are no gas or hotel charges then I do not need any receipts. Thanks for your help.
[S]
email nine:
Maria: I received your latest invoice - I am sorry but it needs to be revised again. You have 2 charges for honorariums $250.00 and $151.11. What is the $151.11 for? If it is part of the honorarium, you have to charge 1 fee not 2. In other words, the charge for the honorarium totals either $250.00 or $401.00. Let me know.
[S]
email ten:
[S],
Our accounting program groups "Honorariums and/or Travel Reimbursements" under one charge code. The $250.00 is for [my CEO's] speaker fee, and the $151.11 is for her mileage [438 miles @ $34.5 per mile]. You can classify these any way you prefer. The total invoice is $401.11. Call me at [xxx-xxx-xxxx] if we need to work this out further.
Maria
***
i mean... come on. i try to get information and no one responds. i send an invoice and go figure -- it's not up to par with their mysterious guidelines. give me all the information i need and give it to me all at once!!! what is your problem???
advent
"today marks december 1, the first official day of anticipation and
longing. the church celebrates this as its own season, leading up to
the holidays and reminding us daily that the Reason we celebrate is not
because we get presents, and It is definitely not a simple one-day
affair. the entire month is spent in lavish preparation, lighting
candles and bringing out special colors and singing songs about this
God who was once a baby who pooped."
- courtesy rachel
- courtesy rachel
